Location
of Body Fat Affects Heart Risk in Women
New research shows
that the presence of fat within the abdominal wall can indicate
the extent of a condition called metabolic syndrome in obese,
postmenopausal women, according to a report in the Journal
of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
The new findings could
help physicians identify health risks in aging women.
According to the American
Heart Association (AHA), metabolic syndrome has become
increasingly common in the US. It is estimated that about
47 million adults have this condition.
The AHA
states that the syndrome is linked with a generalized metabolic
disorder called insulin resistance, in which the body cannot
use insulin efficiently. This is why metabolic syndrome is also
called insulin resistance syndrome.
Some people are genetically
predisposed to insulin resistance. Acquired factors, such as
excess body fat and physical inactivity, can elicit insulin
resistance and the metabolic syndrome in these people.
The biologic mechanisms
at the molecular level between insulin resistance and metabolic
risk factors are not fully understood, reports the AHA.
Risk
Factors To Consider
Research has shown
that obesity is linked to metabolic syndrome, which has several
known risk factors including high cholesterol, high blood pressure,
increased levels of fasting glucose (a sugar in blood and a
source of energy), and an increase in waist circumference.
Yet, not all obese
individuals present all of these symptoms. Following menopause,
many women experience a natural increase in obesity, particularly
around their intra-abdominal area, which refers to fat that
is stored in and around the internal organs.
As a result, it can
be difficult for physicians to detect metabolic syndrome
in these patients.
Dr. Barbara Nicklas,
a researcher at Wake Forest University and the University of
Maryland School of Medicine, sought to determine whether specific
criteria can be used to determine the existence and severity
of metabolic syndrome.
To do this, her team
evaluated the presence of metabolic syndrome by testing aerobic
capacity, body composition, body fat distribution, and inflammation
in 58 obese, postmenopausal women between the ages of 50 and
70 years.
Metabolic syndrome,
which was indicated by three or more characteristics defined
in the Third Report of the National Cholesterol Education
Program, was found in 27 women (47 percent).
By examining the characteristics
in all of the women, Dr. Nicklas discovered that lean mass,
intra-abdominal fat, and a circulating biomarker of inflammation
were significantly higher in women with metabolic syndrome.
Findings
Bring Needed Attention
Additionally, Dr.
Nicklas and her team found that these three characteristics
were independently related to the severity of metabolic syndrome
in the women.
"There are many existing
questions about the health risks of obesity in postmenopausal
women," says Dr Nicklas. "Our findings confirm that specific
characteristics, particularly intra-abdominal fat, are important
in determining the presence of metabolic syndrome in these women.
"We have also shown,
for the first time, that specific characteristics, such as intra-abdominal
fat, can indicate the severity of metabolic syndrome," she explains. "This
information should help physicians evaluate the health
risks for postmenopausal women and design a treatment plan to
lessen the women's risk. "
Always consult your
physician for more information. |
December 2004
Location
of Body Fat Affects Heart Risk in Women
Risk
Factors To Consider
Findings
Bring Needed Attention
What
Is Metabolic Syndrome?
Online
Resources
What
Is Metabolic Syndrome?
According to the American
Heart Association, metabolic syndrome is characterized
by a group of metabolic risk factors in one person.
These risk factors include:
-
Central obesity (excessive
fat tissue in and around the abdomen)
-
Atherogenic dyslipidemia
(blood fat disorders - mainly high triglycerides and low
HDL cholesterol - that foster plaque buildups in
artery walls)
-
Raised blood pressure (130/85
mmHg or higher)
-
Insulin resistance or glucose
intolerance (the body cannot properly use insulin or blood
sugar)
-
Prothrombotic state (such
as high fibrinogen or plasminogen activator inhibitor
[–1] in the blood)
-
Proinflammatory state (such
as elevated high-sensitivity C-reactive protein in the
blood)
The underlying causes
of this syndrome are overweight/obesity, physical inactivity,
and genetic factors.
People with metabolic
syndrome are at increased risk of coronary heart disease, other
diseases related to plaque buildups in artery walls (such as
stroke and peripheral vascular disease), and type 2 diabetes.
Always consult your
physician for more information.
Online
Resources
(Our Organization
is not responsible for the content of Internet sites.)
American
Heart Association
American
Diabetes Association
Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
EverydayChoices.Org
HealthierUS.Gov
National
Cholesterol Education Program
National
Institutes of Health (NIH)
National
Library of Medicine
National
Women's Health Information Center
Office
of Research on Women's Health
US
Public Health Service |
